I am a huge fan of the golden age of Hollywood- particularly films presented in “Glorious Technicolor”!

They’veinfluenced my work in so many ways. And to that end I’ve named my upcoming workshop on colored pencil techniques “Glorious Prismacolor!”

This half day workshop is being hosted by AZ Art Supply (Located at 4025 N. 16th Street Phoenix, AZ 85016)on February 27th from 9am-Noon. And if you’d like a sneak peek as to what’s in store you can come to a free demo this Saturday, January 23 from 10am-Noon.

Be sure to register early for your chance to win a set of 60 Prismacolors!

Now that really would be glorious!

What with one deadline and another the holidays have snuck up on me again!

 It’s just like my Manna says… “You either have 6 months until Christmas or 6 days- there’s no inbetween!”

And with that in mind, I invite you to join me (and wrap up all of your holiday shopping) this weekend at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe!

Books make a fabulous gift for everyone on your holiday list! And I just happen to have a new one out…

I’ll be at Changing Hands Bookstore from 1-3pm this Saturday, December 12 signing copies of Nighty Night Noah, and my latest release: Nighty Night Baby Jesus.

I hope to see you there enjoying a bit if holiday cheer!

The Reviews are in! Well, at least the Kirkus Review is in, and the folks there had nice things to say about Nighty Night Baby Jesus…

” This sweet and simple story follows ten different animals as they approach Mary and the Christ Child in the stable. Each animal in turn makes its own sound when it sees the baby, until Mary finally politely shushes all of them so her child can take a nap. The rhyming text is short and pleasant without being saccharine, and even toddlers will be able to understand the plot and chime in on the animal sounds. The gentle ending refers to the Christmas star as the nightlight for the baby, with the title as the final phrase. Idle, a former DreamWorks artist, uses bold, stylized shapes and exaggerated lines that show her animation background, and Mary looks a bit like Disney’s Pocahontas, but kids will be drawn to the illustrations for their movement and bright colors. (Picture book/religion. 2-5)”

Could do without the Pocahontas reference… I was going for “Byzantine art meets Art Deco”… but what can you do? All in all a good review  ;)

It’s been 3 years since Pennies from Heaven was released, and I just recieved a copy of a promotional video

interview  created by Abingdon Press in anticipation of the book’s release. Looking at it, you can see that I

was also anticipating the arrival of my second baby boy, and was VERY pregnant when it was filmed! 

Take a peek at the Pennies From Heaven Press Interview 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a94GWb_dSys

The other day, playing outside with our boys- my handsome husband took a swig of his soda and found

(too late) that a bumble bee had snuck in for a sip too! OUCH! After cleaning up the spewed soda,

and fetching some ice for my wounded sweetheart, I started wondering about how often we ingest insects

without  knowing.

Sneaky little buggers!

Then I thought… I bet this doesn’t often happen with snails or slugs.

But better to be safe than sorry!

So, when you’re out enjoying your Memorial Day cookout-

“Bee” on the lookout for these gastronomical gastropods…

My Manna always says, “You either have 6 months until Christmas or 6 days”- there’s no inbetween!

And so, with that in mind- I’ve just finished the book trailer for Nighty Night Baby Jesus.

 Coming to bookstores Christmas 2009!

Click the link to take a “peep”!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok-Nwy5YQbA

You can see it on Youtube!

… Or crawling along under them.

 Let’s look out for our little shelled friends this weekend,

 as we hunt for multicolored, hard boiled, treasure in our yards!

Happy Easter!

Happy Valentine’s Day Everybody!

Here are some candies with chocolate covered shells for you to enjoy…

Mmmmmm boy!

Nighty Night Noah has been picked up for a Dutch translation by Uitgeverij Callenbach, a division of KOK.

 What a wonderful way for Noah and his friends aboard the ark to float in to the New Year!

Happy New Year!

Or as our readers in the Netherlands would say…

Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar!

• Welcome 2009! My resolution- to make more time for the important things, and take time to enjoy this wonderful year that stretches out before us!

• I have also resolved to regulary update the blog! So, the first of every month- be on the lookout for a new Snail of the month! The theme for this year’s gastropods: A Snail for All Seasons!

So… Here’s January!